Apolis



(No Model.) I v I J A. MOORE, 1 1). VAN WIE & J. P. BECKER.

DESK. N0. Z60,703 Patented July 4,1882..

WITNESSES.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH A. MOORE, DANIEL D. VAN WIE, AND JOHN P. BECKER, OF IN DIAN-APOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS TO THE MOORE COMBINATION DESK COM- PANY, OFSAME PLACE.

DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming. part of Letters Patent No. 260,703, dated July 4,1882.

Application filed August 2, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOSEPH A. MOORE, DANIELD. VAN WIE, and JOHN P. BECKER, all of the city of Indianapolis, countyof Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Desks,.

of which the-following is a specification.

The object of our said invention is to pro duce a flat-topped desk whichshall embody to a great degree the advantages of a cabinetdesk. This isaccomplished by dividing the body of the desk into wings, after themanner of cabinet-desks, and placing thereon a sliding or movable top.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

which are made a part hereof, Figure] is a perspective view of ourimproved desk when closed; Fig. 2, a similar view when the desk is open;Fig. 3, an end elevation when the desk is open and the top in the usualposition, ready for use from the wing side of the desk; Fig. 4, an endelevation, with the desk in the same position, but with the top pushedover to allowjthe user to get at the compartments underneath or topermit of its use by a person on the opposite side of the desk; Fig. 5,a top or plan view of Fig. 4, showing also by dotted lines the positionof the table in Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a transverse vertical section on thedotted lines 00 a2, Fig.1; Fig. 7, an enlarged detail on the same line,showing the locking attachment more clearly; and Fig. 8, a detaildrawing, showing the lock or catch E in front elevation.

In said drawings, the portions marked A are the main or more permanentportion of the desk, and those marked B a swinging portion or wing; O,hinges to the wings; D, the top to desk, which is made sliding ormovable, and E an automatic catch by which the top is locked in positionwhen the wings are swung together, the strip D on said top serving as acatch for said lock.

Bytheconstruction shownasmallflat-topped desk is made, nearly asconvenient in proportion to its size as the larger and more expensivecabinet-desks. The top, being movable, allows both sides to be used, asin the ordinary flat-top desk having an opening through underneath,while the body being divided into wings gives the advantage of a largenumber of small compartments, as does the cabinet-desk.

The lock E is operated to engage with the top D by being pushed upbehind the strip D thereon bythe strike e on the edge of the wing B,which comes in contact therewith when said wing is swung around incontact with the wing A. When the wings are swung apart it drops down bythe force of its own weight, and the top may then be moved at will.

Itwill be observed that the wing B, as well as the wing A, is entirelycovered by the top D when the desk is closed together.

Having thus fully described our said invention, what we claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A desk the main portion of which is di' vided into two parts, A andB, one of which is provided with the slides 01, on which the top Drests, said top being of sufficient size to entirely cover said mainportion and adapted to be moved back and forth on said slides, where byit will either cover both the parts A and B or only the one to which itis attached, all substantially as shown and described, and for thepurposes specified.

2. The combination, in a desk, of one wing having a movable top, alocking device for said top, and another wing hinged to the former andprovided with a strike for operating said locking device when the wingsare closed together, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the wing A, having the verticallymoving lockingdevice or catch E, the sliding top D, mounted on said wing A andprovided with a notch or piece with which said catch may engage, and thewing B, the edge of which is adapted to come in contact with said catch,and thus automatically force it into engagement as said wings cometogether, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 29th day of July, A. D. 1880.

JOSEPH A. MOORE. [L. s. DANIEL 1). VAN WIE. [L. s. JOHN P. BECKER. [L.s.]

In presence ot-- 0. BRADFORD, E. A. ELDER.

